The major purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of viewing time and blank time (the time between each visual stimulus presentation) on picture recognition. The study utilized six different brief viewing time and blank lime conditions to determine their relationship on picture recognition. A second purpose of the study was to validate or refine earlier studies conducted separately by Sparks (1973) and King (1975). Both studies examined the effects of contextual elements on picture recognition. Sparks used line drawings in his experiment while King presented color realistic photographs to the subjects, The results of both studies showed that contextual elements were related to students' performances on picture recognition. However. Sparks subjects (college students) remembered more line drawings with central figure and context (natural background) while King's subjects (high school students) recognized more color realistic photographs with central figure presented only. In the current study both Sparks and Kings visuals were presented to university students (with varying viewing time and blank lime conditions) to investigate the relationships of recognition to the two pictorial types in combination.
